Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-09-08
went up to the door of the dyche ss's

\
dressing she stood there for
some minutes, but could hear nothing z.
lShe was much inclined to enter the
room and see where Jennie was, but
her delicate sense of refinement pre-
vented 1t. She would not enter the
rooms in her daughters absen ce.
There was no sound now, and the
corridor was filed with soft shadows;
it was growing dark.
II must have been mistaken" she
said to herself. Without doubt this
noise came from some other part OF the
house, it did not certainly come from
here. Still she cried once again,
Jennie" and no answer came. Jennie
was doubtless at supper, and Mrs.
Grey retraced her steps; she went back
to the tapestry-roOm; books and papers
lay there, but she did not feel inclined
to read. The soft dark beauty of the
August night had strange attrac-
ton for her. She went to the window.
How good Heaven had been toher
after all; how fully her hearts desire
3 had been granted to her. She watched
the stars come out, one by one, she
watched the rise of the moon, she
watched the solemn, beautiful shadows
! of night fall over the fair, green earth,
then the great clock in the tower stru OK
ten. She saw in that faint light the
figure of girl come up the broad path
that crossed the lawn, and enter the
house; she knew it was Jennie, but
what could have taken Jennie out at
this time of night, unless she had a
| lover.
Mrs. Grey sincerely hoped not; all
her me nories of | owe and lovers ware
OF oil, tl,fa "A
whom her daughter liked SO we'll, had
| thought, kindly, "she is young and very
| pretty, word Of warning might be
useful to her." So when Mrs. Grey
heard the light footsteps tripping down
the corridor, she opened the door Of
| her room.
IL want to speak to you, Jennie"
! she said, and the pretty maid came into
! the room. Then, Mrs. Grey saw traces
of tears on her face, and her kind heart
was touched! Are you in trouble,
Jennie?" she asked gently.
"Just little, Mrs. Grey, nothing
| much; have been vexed."
She twisted the fringe Of her pretty
mantle round her fingers, and seemed
quite willing TO be questioned further.
"Will you tell me what troubles
your" said Mrs. Grey, looking at the
pretty, dimpled face, with its roses, its
smiles and tears.
~ am not quite sure that l should
like to tell you, Mrs. Grey" But
then the temptation to ma Ike IA confident
of some one was quite irresistible, and
she told her story; all about the fine
gentleman from London who had fallen
in love with her; who had asked her
out that evening purposely to talk of
their maria ye and their future, and
then had failed to keep his appoint
ment. She was veXed and annoyed;
she had waited for him until nearly ten
o'clock and had returned home without
seeing him, both angry and grieved.
Mrs. Grey listend graoely.
You are quite sure, Jennie" she
said. "that your lover is what he seems
to be?'
"There is no fear at all abo ut that"
she answered.
sin that case" said Mrs. Grey, 81
should not distress myself if were
you. Probably some unforeseen busi-
ness prevented his coming, and you
will have letter to- morrow apologize
ing for his failure; but, Jennie, | do not
think it wise, or prudent. or maidenly,
to go out in the evening to meet your
lover. What time did you go?' she
asked suddenly,
"Soon after eight" was the answer.
"Then you were not in the duchess's
dressing-room at nine o'clock"
''No. indeed L was not" replied
Jennie Dane.
Because" said Mrs, Grey, ''just as
the clock struck nine l heard what
seemed to me a very curious sound
there, but did not like to go in"
~ was not there" repeated jennie.
sit must have been your fancy, Mrs.
Grey, but will go and see."
She went. Mrs. Grey stood still by
the window. thinking over all she had
heard, when she was startled by a
shrill cry; then she heard the sound Of
flying footsteps. Jennie came into the
room.
"What shall do?" she cried. sob,
Heaven 1 wish were dead. oh, Mrs.
Grey listen, listen. The safe has been
broken open, and the duchess's dia-
monds are all gone; her jewel cases are
all emptied. What shall do? How
shall | tell herr"
"All gomez" said Mrs. Grey; SIT is
impossible"
at is true! Oh, come with me and
see-come with me!'
Wringing her hands with cries that
brought the other servants all round
her, Jennie led the way to the Ouch ess's
room.
TO BE COTINUED.1